"Staatsgalerie" visit 2008

On Wednesday 9 January we, the participants of the 2008 Tübingen-South Africa program, visited the Stuttgart Staatsgalerie accompanied by our group leader, Lidia du Plessis, and our knowledgeable guide, Marion Schmidt. The old Staatsgalerie was rebuilt after the Second World War, and was joined in 1984 by the new Staatsgalerie, designed by the British architect, James Stirling. At first glance, Stirling’s striking post-modern building, with its curved green-framed windows, and pink and blue balustrades, seem to clash horribly with the surrounding architecture, but on closer inspection (and explanation by Marion) we soon noticed that the building was not only designed to fit in with the surrounding architecture, but also functions as a link between upper and lower Stuttgart, as well as between itself and its neighbour, the old Staatsgalerie. The building is therefore (like post-modern art) a playful mixture of old and new, reflecting the era in which it was designed.
The impressive architecture of the new Staatsgalerie sets the tone for what one is to find inside. We travelled to Stuttgart to look at some of the modern and post-modern art the gallery houses, but seeing as the old Staatsgalerie next door was closed for restoration, we were lucky enough to see some art by the ‘old masters’ side by side with the newer pieces. This provided for an interesting contrast between very different styles and periods, and of particular interest were pieces by the great impressionist Monet, the father of Cubism, Picasso, and the great Pop artist, Andy Warhol.
A few hours prior to our visit to the gallery we were split into pairs, each pair being assigned a different piece of art that was on display in the gallery. We had to prepare an analysis of the piece, and on seeing it in the gallery, present our analysis to the rest of the group. After initially struggling to keep our distance from the paintings, so as not to damage them, insightful interpretations of the chosen pieces were given.
For some this was a first time visit to an art gallery, especially one housing modern art, and as a result, some pre-conceived notions of what ‘art’ is, had to be set aside in order to appreciate and enjoy what the gallery had to offer. As with all things, modern art does not always fall within everybody’s taste, and this was also true for our group. Despite this everyone was able to learn more about modern art and the movements within it, and perhaps come to a greater appreciation of it.
For those members of the group, myself included, who love art and are familiar with modern art, this trip was a truly amazing experience. It is one thing to see a piece of art in a book, but it is a completely different experience to stand in front of an original work. If it is a painting one is looking at, you get to see the brush strokes of the artist, the colours and textures of the paints, and in a way become a part of the painting. This is particularly true in the case of modern art, as one is often confronted with something abstract and challenging, and your interpretation of the work, and your relationship to it, can be greatly influenced by the environment you are viewing the art in. Not only was the gallery itself visually stunning, but the art, some quirky, some traditional, allowed us to open our minds and experience what it is to think outside the box. All in all I think it was an amazing and insightful experience.

by Lizelle Franken

Last Update (15/01/08)